Everything You Need to Know about Indoor Rowing Machines from Fitness 4 Home Superstore

Indoor rowing machines offer a great full-body exercise that burns fat and tones muscle. Once you have mastered the basics of a new rowing machine and are ready to expand your exercise, there are numerous videos and video series that have workouts for all levels of experience and any muscle group.

In this newsletter we will discuss the basic features of average rowing machines and what a proper rowing style consists of. The following is how to properly use rowing machines:

Proper Grip and Adjustment - One of the first things you should when using a rowing machine is adjust the machines foot straps. Make sure your heel is resting comfortably against the base of the pedal and that the strap has been properly secured.

As a beginner, the resistance on your rowing machine should be set at a low level. Setting the resistance level too high will cause your upper body to tire faster. Do not cut your aerobic workout short. Save the heavy resistance for your weight training exercises.

A proper rowing grip is firm but relaxed. A rowing grip that is too tight may cause your hands and forearms to fatigue faster. Your grip can be either underhand or overhand and alternating between the two will decrease arm fatigue.

Proper Body Mechanics – Your rowing technique while using a machine is important, just as with other exercises. In particular, a rowing machine user who has poor form is at risk for injuring their back. To avoid straining your back, primarily use your leg and hip muscles. Do not overarch your back when you finish each stroke. Be sure to sit up straight and bend forward at your hips. When pulling the oars or handles, your elbows should remain close to your body.

There are three major phases of rowing training: the catch, the power stroke and the recovery. The catch phase position refers to when you come forward on the rower. Keep your knees bent and against your chest. Your upper body should be leaning forward slightly while still maintaining good posture. Your back should not be hunched over and your head should be up.

The power stroke is when you push up against the foot pedals as well as extend your legs while bring your hands to your abdominal area. Exhale as you do this. When you have reached full extension, lean back a little to achieve maximum benefit. However, it is important to avoid leaning back too far as this increases your risk for back strain.

The recovery phase simply involves allowing your arms to straighten bending your knees and bringing your body forward. A successful rower is able to blend all three of these phases into one another.

Fitness 4 Home Superstore has a wide variety of indoor rowing machines to fit your exercise needs – visit one of our Valley stores or our online store today to find out more.

Exercise – Time To Consider An Exercise Bike

by Bob Lachniet
President - Fitness 4 Home Superstore

Now that Fall is here, the weather is getting nicer, the holidays are approaching fast – and, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep that weight off! Yet, now is the perfect time to start on improving your exercise program! One great way of doing that is to improve your cardio workouts with an exercise bike.

Exercise bikes have changed quite a bit in the last few years. Where before, they seemed to be nothing more than just a bicycle frame, a wheel, and a resistance belt connecting the two, now you have a wide variety of options in both style as well as resistance.

Exercise bicycles now come in two major styles – recumbent and upright. Upright exercise bikes are great for those who prefer a classic seated position – and they are perfect for those that want to try spinning workouts at home like they may have experienced in the gym. Recumbent bikes put you in a seated position more like you would find while sitting in a chair – these are great for people that have avoided exercise bikes in the past due to back issues.

When it comes to resistance levels, you now have a wide variety of choices. The resistance belts are still there on some bikes, but now you can also choose from motorized resistance and magnetic resistance bikes. The advantages of these types of bikes are that where before, you’re workout was based only on how hard you pedal against a resistance belt, now you can “dial in” preset or customized workout programs, which not only provide variety to your workouts, they can also help you stay in a “fat burning” or “cardiovascular workout” zone – or anything in between!

Of course, these bikes now require a power source – even with some of the bikes with resistance belts. Why? Well, those bikes from years ago may have only had an odometer and if you were lucky, a speedometer. Now, many bikes feature LCD or TV displays, cooling fans, and audio systems! Depending on the bike you choose, control panels now can give you instant feedback on your workouts, monitor your heart rate so that you can maximize your workout, calories burned, not to mention speed / distance / time.

Yet, all of these choices can make finding the right exercise bike for your needs seem like a difficult task, made more difficult if you stop in one of the “big box” stores. For the best way to not only understand more about the types of bikes (and types of options available), but to also find the best bike for your fitness needs, visit one of Fitness 4 Home Superstores 3 locations today!

Exercise – How To Avoid Boredom When Running

We’ve all had that problem when running, whether on a treadmill, or outside on our familiar running route. Boredom. And, if it happens often enough, that boredom can translate into an acute lack of motivation for our exercise program! But, how can you avoid getting bored?

Belgian researchers have discovered that if you can keep yourself distracted while running, you’ll exercise for up to 20 percent longer! New treadmill designs coming out take this into account, offering video screens and iPod connections. So – if you’re looking to buy a new treadmill for your home, visit Fitness 4 Home Superstore, and take a look at some of the newest equipment designs that can help you stay distracted – and motivated!

But, for those of you that aren’t ready yet to buy a new treadmill, there are a few tricks you can do to help stay motivated.

1. Buy an iPod, or other type of mp3 player – and load it with content that will help keep you distracted. And, it doesn’t have to be music – also consider audio books from Audible.com, or learn a new language with language tapes.
   
   
2. Get a flat screen TV and put it up in front of your treadmill. Watch your favorite show, or hook a DVD player up to it, and put in travel videos – and imagine running a different route through a foreign country!
   
   
3. Speaking of running a different route – do that! It’s easy to get into a routine, so break up that routine! Get up early on a Saturday morning, drive across town, and run a route you’ve never run before!

In the end, just by refocusing your mind on something different, you can not only keep yourself motivated, but you’ll go longer & farther – which will help you get that much closer to achieving your fitness goals!

Exercise Equipment – Product Spotlight: True Fitness Z5 Recumbent Exercise Bicycle

So, you’re thinking of an purchasing a home exercise bicycle, yet you’re not sure what to look for. One exercise bike you should consider is the True Fitness Z5 Recumbent Bike.

The Z5 features a steel-gray, sturdy frame that will definitely look good in your home. But, function is also important, and the Z5 doesn’t disappoint. Options include a 8x16 Heart Rate Control that both monitors your heart rate, but also allows you to maintain your desired heart rate and control your workout with adjustable resistance levels. And, speaking of adjustability, the Z5 also can be adjusted to fit you, as the back adjusts from 45 to 75 degrees, and the seat adjusts into 24 different positions.

With the Z5, you can create the workout that fits your fitness needs. Once you plug in the eddy current brake system, you can duplicate the same feel you have on the road with constant torque. And you can keep that same feel of the road with 16 resistance levels, and four preset programs for hills, cardiovascular workouts, weight loss, and random workouts.

And when the Z5 was reviewed by Consumer Reports, they felt that it was worth an Excellent rating – considering it a CG Best Buy! Plus, even after your purchase, True Fitness also backs up the quality of their products with a 1 year warranty on labor, and 2 years on parts.

Want to know more? Come visit one of our 3 Valley-area Fitness 4 Home Superstore locations today!

Fitness - The Best Way To Buy Exercise Equipment

by Bob Lachniet
President - Fitness 4 Home Superstore

So, whether your purchasing home exercise equipment for the first time, or your looking to add to the equipment you already have for your home gym, there’s always that problem of trying to figure out where to start. The best way to ensure you make the right purchase, is to have a plan for finding the equipment that best suits your needs – and we have some suggestions on how best to do that.

1. Determine your fitness goals. Like to run? Want to build muscle? Determine if you are looking to build strength and muscle mass, or just loose weight and firm up, as this will help you to narrow down the types of equipment you should consider.

2. Assess your experience. If you’ve been a regular exerciser in the past, that helps. If you’re not that experienced, you might be a bit confused as to what type of equipment you’re most comfortable with. This is where a specialty dealer has a significant advantage over the “big box” stores. Specialty dealers like Fitness 4 Home Superstore can help you assess your goals and experience, and recommend the types of home fitness equipment that will best fit your fitness needs.

3. Determine where you would put your equipment, and how much room you have for it. Make sure that what your planning on purchasing will fit the space you have - and for help determining if the equipment your looking at will fit, Fitness 4 Home Superstore can help!

4. Determine your equipment needs. Once you know what you want to accomplish, your comfort level and dedication for an exercise program, and where you’d put it – now you can think about the equipment you’d want. Remember one thing, though. Whether it’s a treadmill, cross trainer / elliptical, exercise bicycle, or home gym – keep your choices focused on what you really need to make exercise a healthy, permanent habit!

Once you have an idea of what you want before you go shopping, you’re less likely to make a premature decision. Plus, when you’re ready to shop, you’re best served by considering a specialty dealer rather than a big-box store. For more information on why, click here.

With a solid purchasing plan, you’ll be better prepared to find those sales & bargains that can help you find the equipment you need – at the price you can afford!!

Why You Should Purchase Fitness Equippment From Specialty Fitness Dealers

Specialty fitness dealers are always your best and safest way to shop for home exercise equipment regardless of how big or small the item or purchase may be. Specialty fitness dealers are just that (SPECIAL) in every positive term of the word.

· A specialty fitness dealer sells high quality exercise equipment and nothing else. Not sporting goods, shoes, tools, bikes or anything for that matter other than quality exercise equipment unlike the big box / department stores that are selling items based on a low price and an impulse purchase. Furthermore, they must sell equipment that will not only work right the first time, but also last a long time as well - otherwise, they wouldn't remain in business!

· Specialty fitness dealers offer a wide variety of different types of quality exercise equipment for all types shapes and sizes of people. Unlike big box / department stores that have maybe 2-3 choices of equipment in each category, specialty fitness equipment dealers stake their business reputation on providing the consumer with the products that not only meet their fitness requirements, but also will work for them both short and long term. Keep in mind that good quality fitness equipment also comes with longer term warranties than you'll find with equipment found at big-box stores. And, if you choose an extended warranty for equipment purchased at the big box stores (which, given the quality of the product, you should probably do), you've already brought the price for that equipment much closer to what you'd get from a specialty equipment store - minus the quality.

· Rather than trying to get help from a big-box store employee that may not have much knowledge of what works bests for your fitness goals, when you deal with a specialty fitness equipmnet dealer, you'll receive assistance from a professionally trained and experienced fitness consultant. When it comes to investing in home exercise equipment, you should work with someone who will not only be able to provide you will a plethora of knowledge about exercise and fitness but also point you into the right products that will be most effective in helping you to achieve your specific fitness goals. So, avoid the kids who work in the big box stores that are moved from one department to another on a daily basis, and choose a professional, experienced and knowledgeable fitness consultant.

Rest assured when making a purchase from a specialty fitness dealer, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that your purchase is a long term investment in high quality equipment that will last you for many enjoyable years to come. Rather than spend your money on disposable products of the type you'll find in the big box stores, it is actually less expensive to invest your money in fitness equipment that will help you successfully achieve your fitness goals. * Side note: More often than not, it seems that the people who purchase products from big box stores, have bought themselves a reason NOT to exercise. Buyer Beware!!!!

· Although the cost of purchase may be higher, one other potential advantage (depending on the specialty equipment dealer you purchase from) - may offer financing programs that are much more cost effective than you'll find at a big-box store. For example, Fitness 4 Home Superstore offers 0% financing on your purchases (see our website at www.fitness4homesuperstore.com for details) - which not only brings your monthly payment down to a rate that might approach what your family would pay for a monthly health club membership, but also saves you money over what you'd pay in interest on a big box store credit program - or what you' d pay on your credit card for interest.

Although there is a certain convenience factor when it comes to buying from the big-box stores, in the end, this is outweighed by the advantages you'll find in the professionalism, dedication, commitment, and quality you'll find both in the specialty store fitness consultants you'll talk to, and the equipment they recommend, at a specialty fitness equipment dealer. And, when you do the math, the cost savings at the big box stores...may not really be what it seems!

Exercise Equipment - Your First Step

So...you're thinking of purchasing fitness equipment. When choosing equipment, you should choose the type of equipment that matches what you like to do. For example, if you like cycling, you should choose a stationary exercise bicycle. Likewise, if you like to run, consider a treadmill. Sound overly simplistic...and obvious? Well, the surprising thing is that many people forget the simple rule of "buy what you like".

What if you're not sure what you like? Then, you should try out a few different types of equipment to see what you would like best. If you don't currently have a gym membership, many local gyms offer a free 2 week pass to let you try out their facilities - take advantage of this, and sample different types of equipment to see what works best for you.

The next thing you should look at when searching for exercise equipment is its quality/price balance. Think about the fact that you might want to use your equipment on a daily basis, or other members of your family might use it, so a decisive factor in choosing a equipment is making sure it’s made by a professional sports company and that you get a good warranty on it. Quality equipment can last for years of non-stop usage, while other poorly built ones can break apart after only a few weeks or months. Of course price is a big issue, but it’s best to dig a little deeper in your pocket than buy something cheap that will either cause you injuries or pains, or something that will break down after only a few uses. Remember the saying “you get what you pay for” fits perfectly.

Once you know what you want, then go shopping! And, if you have questions, visit one of Phoenix's three Fitness 4 Home Superstore locations, and let our team help you find what works best for your fitness needs!